Happiness is elusive for sure, but sometimes the world arranges itself around you in such a way that you can't help but smile and be thankful. I recently had one of these moments, and it returned dividends for days, overriding stubborn negative thoughts. Bellissimo. So, what was this amazing event? Some sort of epiphany? A personal gain or recognition? A financial windfall?
Exactly wrong. Many of us grown ups are so intent on fulfilling more complex (and often more superficial) accomplishments, that we risk missing out on those things that can truly reward us with happiness.
In my case it was simply a beautiful afternoon, and the witnessing the purest joy of two children. I was able to be there when two little boys first experienced "dirt jumps" or "dirt hills" as we called them ages ago. I felt so lucky to be there...watching these boys confront their fears and pedal/ride those bikes up and down the jump bumps with precarious balance. Of course no jumping was really being done, but they were outside their comfort zone, and that was what mattered. The completely transparent rush of accomplishment, fun and enjoyment that I witnessed in them immediately made me flash back to the very day in which I had the same.
The dirt jumps, and really the entire afternoon, hadn't been planned out, but they were randomly there, and begging to be experienced. It truly matched the definition of fun.
By yet another strange universal twist, I found myself, the next day, surprised as I passed an official mountain bike advanced skills training course. The bike was in the back of the truck...so yeah, I got out there and rode the wooden oversized see-saws, jumped the dirt hills, and drove home the 6 foot drop-offs...just like a 7 year old. It was awesome...not a single crash, plenty of intense focus-on-balance moments, and definitely having fun. Day 2 of sincere and severe fun that wouldn't have happened had I not been prodded by the vicarious experience of a 4 and 6 year old 'jumping' dirt for the first time the day before...what a dividend.
So, what's this post about? It's simply one answer to the elusive question - How does one find happiness? The answer, if you haven't yet guessed...let yourself go, don't hold back...life's very short and the universe aligns itself for you only so many times.
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1 comment:
very interesting, brings many many thoughts to mind.
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